So here I am, in what is technically my second week of residency. After talking about it for the better part of six months, it's a little surreal to finally be here!

We spent most of last week in orientation, touring the offices and hearing from different voices within the church about what to expect and how to make the most of the next two years. A common refrain in much of what we heard was a reminder to go all in and to not only be open to correction but to seek it out. We looked at the words of Jesus in John 15:1-2:

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit."

While there is much to take away here, I was reminded again that an openness to being pruned and corrected is foundational to the life of discipleship. To truly embrace development is to invite God to use others around you to speak into your life; to give them place to affirm the good and to honestly critique the bad. My prayer has been that God would use this next season of life to grow me not only vocationally as a worship leader but also as a disciple of Christ, seeking to live and look like Jesus in everything.

Even in the midst of a totally new environment, taking in way more information than I can process in one sitting, I've felt a continued sense of deep gratitude for the opportunity to even be here and to learn under the leaders here at the Austin Stone. I'm grateful for God's perfect timing in bringing it about and for his provision in getting us here.

There's so much more I could share but I'll leave it there for now. So excited to journey with those of you following along here over the next two years!